News Round-Up: Channing Tatum Cast as Gambit; ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ Release Date; and More

After an exciting week that has included some good trailers, posters, and photos, next on the docket is this week’s News Round-Up piece. In today’s post, you’ll find a lot of casting – including Channing Tatum in a GambitX-Men Spin-off, Liam Neeson in A Monster Calls, John Goodman in Transformers: Age of Extinction, and Octavia Spencer in Insurgent. For release dates, you can find one for the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and a release date year for Voyage of Time. In the misc. category, I have an update on Hugh Jackman’s involvement in future X-Men films.

Scroll to find all the pertinent information and links for the news breaks.

Casting

Perhaps the biggest news – both in the casting subcategory and in this whole post – is Channing Tatum’s involvement in an X-Men spin-off tentatively titled Gambit. Not much is known other than the title character (including a director or release date), but it’s exciting to know that the red-hot actor will be joining the X-Men universe. (Source: The Huffington Post)

Liam Neeson – another red-hot actor – joined A Monster Calls. For those that don’t know, the film will be an adaptation of a YA short story. Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible) will direct the pic and it looks like Neeson will play a monster of some kind. Focus Features will put out the film on October 14, 2016. (Source: IGN)

Although Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction is right around the corner (it is set to come out on June 27th), the voice cast wasn’t firmed down until recently. Both John Goodman and Ken Watanabe’s (Inception) names have been thrown into the ring. It appears these two will play characters by the (tentative) names of Autobot Hound and Drift (respectively). (Source: THR)

It was a busy week for Octavia Spencer. The Oscar-winning actress most excitedly joined the film adaptation Insurgent. Based on Veronica Roth’s popular YA novel (and the sequel to this year’s popular Divergent), the cast is turning out to be pretty exciting. She’ll be joined by returners Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Miles Teller. I haven’t read the book yet, but that’ll change before the movie comes out May 20, 2015. Robert Schwentke (R.I.P.D.) will takeover directing duties from Neil Burger. (Source: Deadline)

Release Dates

The biggest release date bit is for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The Harry Potter spin-off, which will excitedly be written by J.K. Rowling herself, is going to hit theaters November 18, 2016. I’m hoping this film won’t be a “cash grab,” but I’m not so sure at this point. We’ll update you with a director and stars when they’re known. (Source: THR)

Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life) isn’t known for being a transparent film director. However, it is nice to know we’re getting a little more information about his upcoming filmography as Voyage of Time will be released sometime in 2016. The other piece of exciting news (maybe?) is that two different versions (one being a director’s cut) will be made when it does finally release. As for talent, both Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) and Brad Pitt will serve as narrators. (Source: IndieWire)

Misc.

Although this could’ve probably made it in the “Casting” section, I thought it deserved a section for itself. Hugh Jackman, who had been rumored to be calling it quits as Wolverine after the next spin-off, has confirmed he’ll play the iconic X-Men character at least three more time. This doesn’t include his work in the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past (set to release on May 23rd). It appears he’ll appear three more times including X-Men: Apocalypse and more stand-alone films. (Source: Daily Mail)

Jordan, who currently resides in Seattle, WA, has slowly become a film fanatic over the past couple of years. He attributes his love for film to the smash hit THE DARK KNIGHT which has created an (un)healthy obsession with both Christopher Nolan and the Batman franchise. Although he appreciates all genres of film, his favorite movies are typically psychological thrillers, with an emphasis on non-traditional narratives.